Nothing brings out that incredible Holiday spirit quite like hanging Christmas lights. Christmas lights turn nighttime into magic and capture the hearts of everyone who sees them, but hanging them can be a difficult thing. Unless you have a team of professional Christmas decorators living in your home, you are going to need a little help. Here is our guide to hanging Christmas lights on the roof.
How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof
Television can give us a false narrative about how to hang Christmas lights. Although it is hilarious to see an individual struggle, fall, and hang from the gutters on screen, it is far less enjoyable when it happens to you in reality.
Ladder Safety
The first thing you need to understand about hanging Christmas lights on your roof is the need for ladder safety. You are going to need a ladder. Stacking up items like they do in cartoons is hilarious on screen, but completely impractical when put into a real-life scenario.
Your ladder should be secure. Do not use an old ladder with busted slats. Each slat adds to the safety of the ladder and any ladder having broken slats should be replaced promptly.
There are a few types of ladders. The most common ladder is the straight variety. These are those that are leaned against an object to gain optimal support. The other type is a self-supporting ladder. This type of ladder has two sides and is fashioned into a triangle shape for ideal support. Although you may use either type of ladder for hanging Christmas lights, both require a stable area to rest on.
The ground beneath your ladder should be sturdy and level. As you climb up the ladder on unstable ground, the structure becomes less safe. Safety first is the key ingredient in hanging Christmas lights.
Attach Clips First
Before venturing up the ladder, take our advice and attach plastic clips or provided hangers to the lights. Fumbling with clips while on the ladder can get confusing and be very dangerous. Always perform this task before getting on the ladder. It will save you time and a lot of headaches. Also, make sure to measure the roof to ensure you have enough lights to cover the area you wish to decorate.
Where to Begin
Television depictions of lighting decorations often showcase the person attaching lights in the very center of the roof, but this is not correct. Ideally, you want to make sure your lights can reach the power source, so begin there. Initially, plug in the lights to ensure the plug reaches the power source and the roof. Once you have established the appropriate length, unplug the lights for safety.
Slowly move along the roof line attaching each clip and moving the ladder as you need to. It will take many trips up and down the ladder, but making multiple trips and moving the ladder frequently is far better than reaching too far and potentially falling.
Where to Attach Clips
Christmas lights should be attached to the roof in specific areas. The area should securely hold the clip to ensure it does not blow in the wind and damage the home’s roof structure. There are a variety of areas to attach clips to including the metal roof eve, gutter, or shingles themselves. Each of these places will provide a stable place to attach clips for a stunning Christmas light display.
Use of a Specific Plug Type
You are not required to use any specific plug style. Generally, any household plug will work for hanging Christmas lights, but you may want to think about a smart timing device. Smart plugs help control when the lights are on. Turning the lights off at a specific time at night will save energy. Who is really out at 1 am with the specific purpose of looking at Christmas lights anyway?
In addition, if you need a long strand of Christmas lights to surround your house, it’s better to choose the connectable string lights (connect up to 19 strands) so that you don’t need to worry about the power socket problem.
Key Points to Hang Christmas Lights on Different Types of Roof
People have various types of roofs, so hanging Christmas lights might be a little different. We are going to share some key points for your consideration.
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutter
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof Without Gutters
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof Peak
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Metal Roof
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Tile Roof
- How to Attach Christmas Lights to Shingles
- How to Hang Christmas Lights on Stucco Flat Roof
- How to Hang Icicle Lights on Gutters
- How to Put Christmas Lights on Second Story Roof
- How to Hang Christmas Lights without Getting on Roof
- How to Put Christmas Lights on Roof Without Ladder
1. How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutters
When hanging Christmas lights on gutters, you can use any clips, but the best option is to utilize specific gutter clips. These clips are not initially placed on the lights but on the gutters. Lights are then slipped into openings to hold them securely. Place clips along the outer edge of your gutter to ensure they can easily be seen by those passing by and evenly space the clips for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Clips are not essential for hanging lights on gutters. There are other options if gutter clips are not available. Among the most affordable options are standard zip ties. Measure the circumference of your gutter to ensure the zip ties are long enough to reach around the gutter. Again, evenly space zip ties to keep everything looking as it should. Clip off the end of the tie so you do not have a lot of plastic sticking out from your gutters.
2. How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof Without Gutters
Not all homes have existing gutters, so if yours does not, you can still make a stunning light display. First, you need the right clips. Purchase clips that are specifically designed to be attached to shingles. The clips fit beneath the light of your light strands, so unscrew the bulb, place the clip, and screw the bulb back in for a secure fit. Evenly space your clips and attach them to the drip edge or directly to the top shingle.
The drip edge is a shingle located at the base of the roof to reinforce the area and keep water moving off the roof safely. Most shingle roofs will have a drip edge. Try to avoid lifting shingles. Shingles seal the roof with a strip of tar that heats up to create a proper seal. Lifting the shingles can break the seal and leave your roof vulnerable.
3. How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof Peak
The peak of your roof is one of two areas. The peak is the actual ridge of the roof, but also the rising areas that provide additional structure to the roof. You can attach Christmas lights to the rising peak just as you would to standard shingles. Use secure peak clips designed for shingles, not staples, as these can cause damage to your roof.
Peak clips are designed to hug the peak and not damage the roof structure or roof material. Never access the roof if it has been raining, snowing, or there is dew on the roof. A dry roof is essential for your safety if you have to walk on the roof to reach the ridge.
4. How to Hang Christmas Lights on Metal Roof
Attaching Christmas lights to a metal roof is even easier than shingles. For temporary lighting needs such as Christmas lights, you can use suction cup clips. These clips attach to the roof directly and allow you to easily clip lights on the other end. When using suction cups, ensure the roof is completely clean to make a proper seal.
If you do not want to use suction cups, there is a better option. Since the roof is metal, it is magnetic, so magnet clips are often the best solution. Again, make sure the roof area is clean and magnets are strong. Magnets are not a good idea if you are working with freshly painted metal. They might damage the paint.
5. How to Hang Christmas Lights on Tile Roof
Tile roofs can be a little difficult to hang Christmas lights on, but not impossible. Thankfully, there are specific Christmas light clips specifically designed for this type of roofing. Make sure you have the right type of clips before starting your adventure. The clips securely adhere to the roof without damaging the tile. Some people claim you can use nails or tacks, but if you place them in the wrong area, you can quickly damage your roof’s structure. Specific tile clips are always the best solution.
Make sure your roof is as dry as possible to ensure clips adhere correctly and you do not slip when accessing peaks and valleys of your roof. Moisture on your tile roof can make it dangerous and slippery. No one wants that.
6. How to Attach Christmas Lights to Shingles
Shingle roofs are among the most common types of roofing systems. The unique thing about shingle roofs is exactly what makes attaching Christmas lights so easy. Most shingle roofs have a drip edge. This is located at the base of the roof and provides additional structure to make the shingles last longer while shedding water appropriately.
Purchase Christmas light clips specifically designed for shingles and attach them directly to the drip edge. If your roof does not have a drip edge, you may attach the clips directly to the shingles. Avoid lifting shingles and breaking their seal. Each shingle has a tar strip that heats up to seal the roof after installation. If the seal if broken from an enthusiastic Christmas light decorator lifting shingles, the integrity of the roof can be compromised.
7. How to Hang Christmas Lights on Stucco Flat Roof
Stucco roofs can be difficult to contend with, but again, not impossible. Although you cannot drill into stucco, it does hold tape and glue well. Double-sided tape is recommended when attaching Christmas lights to stucco flat roof systems. The key ingredient when using double-sided tape is cleanliness. Make certain the area is completely clean before taping up the lights. Also, place tape on the socket of your light to avoid potential damage.
Often, with stucco, previous homeowners may have already drilled into the structure. If this happens to be the case for you, installation is as easy as placing glue into existing holes. Tacks may be used in existing holes and glued into place for security.
8. How to Hang Icicle Lights on Gutters
Gutter guard clips can be used for hanging icicle lights on gutters. These lights attach to the strand of lights first and are then placed along the gutter system. Make sure you space clips evenly along the gutter to ensure a uniform look. Convenient hooks on the clips make the task very easy.
9. How to Put Christmas Lights on Second Story Roof
Hanging lights on the second story of your home is much like hanging them on the first story, but additional safety measures should be in place. Ladders will need to be longer to access the second story. Placing a shorter ladder on the first-floor roof can be very dangerous unless the roof is completely flat. Avoid stretching and reaching along the second story. Again, make multiple trips down the ladder to readjust its position for optimal safety.
10. How to Hang Christmas Lights without Getting on Roof
Generally, there is little need to get on the roof if you are not accessing the peak or ridge of the roof. Provided you have a secure area to place your ladder, you should not have to access the roof. The use of scaffolding can help you avoid the need to get on the roof as well if you have access to any.
11. How to Put Christmas Lights on Roof Without Ladder
It is highly recommended that a ladder be used for installing Christmas lights. However, there are alternatives to consider. The use of a scissor lift will help you manage hanging Christmas lights without a ladder. Scissor lifts can be rented from many home improvement and hardware stores and are easy to operate. Another option is a bucket truck. These can be a little difficult to come by, but they too can be rented in some cases.
Hanging Christmas lights can get complicated if you allow it. However, with a little planning and common sense, the task is manageable. The key ingredient in hanging Christmas lights on your roof is to know the type of roof you have, how much lighting you need, and the right type of clips, tape, glue, or tacks, to get the job done correctly. Ask your Christmas light provider for their recommendations before going it alone for the best results.
